Improvement in regulators for steam-engines



UNI'I'ED SrA' s Parnn'ri OFFI E;

NATHANIEL HEBRESHOFF, "or" rnovinnncn, RHQDE IsLANn.

"IMPRQVEMENT'IN REGULATORS FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

' Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,544, dated anuary 22 1878 application filed;

January 11, 1877f. A,

To all whom t't may concern:

Be" it known that I, 'NATHANIEL' G. H R- REsHoFF,of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating toRegulators forSteam- Engines and other Motors, of which the following is a specification:

' My regulator belongs to that class in which one part is rotated with a uniform velocity and another with a velocity which variesaccording to that of the engine, water-wheel, or

' the like. I will describe it as applied to regulate a turbine or other water-wheel by a gate requiring considerable force to move it.

When the wheel goes' too quickly the'difference in the motion ac'tuates the gate to reduce the. supply of water. When the wheel runs too slowly it induces a change in the reverse direction". r

I have devised a constructionby which the uniformmotion is reliably obtained with simple and durable mechanism, and in a manner which allows it to exert avery considerable force.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a central vertical section. Fig.

2 is a horizontal section on the line S S in Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both the figures.

Ais a fixed frame of cast-iron. B is a horizontal shaft, driven by the water-wheel through a round belt (not represented) running on the pulley B. B is a beveled gear-wheel, meshing into the smaller beveled gear-wheel O keyed on an upright shaft, 0, supported in fixed bearings. Suppose the wheel 13 to have twenty-five teeth, the wheel 0 may have twenty-two teeth.

0 is a ring fixed on the shaft C, smoothly turned and polished on its inner face. A is a ring bolted to the fixed framing A and surrounding the revolving ring 0 D is a sleeve fitted tight and easy on the spindle (l, and supported byacollar, c. Stout arms D extend out from the sleeve D, and carry heavily-weighted levers E E, connected by "knuckle-jointse. Jaws E E from each lever E' loosely seize both the rings 0 and A adapted to make frictional contact-the jaws E withthe interior'of the quick ring 0 and the jaws E with the exterior of the fixed ring A. These jaws become effective as the weighted levers E drop below or rise above their correct positions.

While at rest the jaws Ebear strongly." In starting the water wheel the inertia of the heavy mass on'the levers E E may induce a slipping; but" the friction due to the strong pressure of the jaws E against the interior of the revolving ring G soon generates a nearly similar rotation, but a little more slowly. At this stageof the accelerating motion of the regulator a'peculiar action is developed. The force of the frictional contact is lessened. So soon as the velocity becomes sufficient to support the levers E in the'right position by centrifugal force the'acceleration from the more rapidly revolving ring 0 ceases by reason of the'pre'ssure of the frictional contact becoming diminished. This" follows from the fact that as the levers E swing outward the pressrim of the jaws E? against the interior of the ring diminishes, and allows the parts to slip freely past each other.

Thus conditioned, the sleeveD soon acquires and persistently maintains a uniform rate of revolution. Ordinarily the jaws E will press gently against the more quickly revolving ring 0 with a tendency to partake of the quicker motion thereof. But if the friction of the spindle G or other cause be more than sufficient to maintain the velocity without any contact of the jaws E with the quicker ring 0, the jaws E will rub slightly against the fixed ring A, and restrain the motion.

For ordinary mills the regulator should be so adjusted that when the engine is running at the proper speed the velocity of the spindle G will be only a little greater than that of the sleeve 1). The velocity ratio is found in the ratio of the gear-wheels B and 0 If they are proportioned as above suggested, the speeds of O and D will be as twenty-five to twentytwo.

Fcr very accurate work, as in regulating a large cotton-mill, there should be'bu't a slight range of motion allowed to the levers E be tween the pressing of the jaws E against the revolving ring 0 and the pressing of the jaws E against the fixed ring A.

Having by these means obtained a reliable and uniform motion of the sleeve D, with its heavy attachments, which, by their great inertia, are capable of developing much force when required, my means for regulating the water-wheel thereby are as follows:

A loose sleeve, G, is fitted on the spindle 0, free to rotate in either direction. An arm, g, extends outward therefrom, and to it is joined a wire or rod, H, extending away horizontally and connected to the gate, (not represent'ed,) so that its being moved will quicken or retard the water-wheel, as will be readily understood. -A bevel wheel, M, mounted loosely on this arm 9, gears below into a beveled gear-wheel, I, which is mounted loosely on the spindle O, and receives motion from the driving-shaft B through the train of gears represented, so that its rate of revolution corresponds rigorously with that of the waterwheel at every moment. The wheel M also gears above into a beveled gear-wheel, D fixed on the lower end of the uniformly-revolving sleeve D, running in the opposite direction to I.

While the velocity of the water-wheel is exactly right these two wheels I D run in opposite I directions at precisely the same rate, and the wheel M turns idly between them. But the moment the water-wheel or corresponding engine runs too quickly,-and I gains upon D The governor may-be worked with some success with only one of the revolving arms and weights E, or with a greater number than the two shown; but I prefer the employment of two, arranged to directly balance each other, as represented.

I claim as my improvement in regulators 1. An impelling frictional surface, in combination with the weights revolved thereby, the parts being so combined that the frictional force becomes less as the weights revolve more rapidly, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. In combination with the spindle O, sleeve D, levers E, and suitable connections to the motor, the friction-rings O and the corresponding jaws E on the loaded. levers E, adapted to serve asherein specified.

3. In combination with a centrifugal governor, and with provisions for allowing the motor to run ahead or behind, as specified, a stationary friction-piece, A adapted to restrain the motion of the governor when in excess, as herein specified.

4. The beveled gears B I O and pulley B in combination with the wheel M, controlling the freely-turning arm 9, and with the revolving parts 0 D, having motions, the one uniform and the other varying with that of the engine, as herein specified.

5. The combination of revolving weights, impelling frictionalmeans, retarding frictional means, and connecting mechanism for controlling the motor, according as it runs ahead or behind, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of January, 1877, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NATHL. G. HERRESHOFF.

Witnesses:

M. E. OHAPPOTIN, S. DE V. OHAPPOTIN. 

